[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 156 (Monday, August 13, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48108-48110]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-19766]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
10 CFR Part 430
[Docket No. EERE-2012-STD-0020]
RIN 1904-AC77
Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial Clothes Washers:
Public Meeting and Availability of the Framework Document
AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting and availability of the framework
document.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) issues a framework document to
consider whether to amend the energy and water conservation standards
for commercial clothes washers. DOE also announces a public meeting to
discuss and receive comments on issues that it will address in this
rulemaking proceeding. DOE is initiating data collection for
considering amended energy and water conservation standards for
commercial clothes washers. DOE also encourages written comments on
potential amended standards, including comments on the issues
identified in the framework document. The framework document, which is
intended to inform stakeholders and facilitate the rulemaking process,
is available at http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/commercial/clothes_washers.html.
DATES: DOE will hold a public meeting on September 24, 2012, from 9
a.m. to 12 p.m. in Washington, DC. Any person requesting to speak at
the public meeting should submit such request along with a signed
original and an electronic copy of the statements to be given at the
public meeting before 4:00 p.m., September 10, 2012. Written comments
are welcome, especially following the public meeting, and should be
submitted by October 12, 2012.
ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the U.S. Department of
Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 8E-089, 1000 Independence Avenue SW.,
Washington, DC 20585-0121. Please note that foreign nationals
participating in the public meeting are subject to advance security
screening procedures. If a foreign national wishes to participate in
the public meeting, please inform DOE of this fact as soon as possible
by contacting Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-2945 so that the
necessary procedures can be completed.
Stakeholders may submit comments, identified by docket number EERE-
2012-STD- 0020 and/or Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) 1904-AC77, by
any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Email: [email protected] Include
docket number EERE-2012-STD-0020 and/or RIN 1904-AC77 in the subject
line of the message.
Mail: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department of Energy,
Building Technologies Program, Mailstop EE-2J, 1000 Independence Avenue
SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. If possible, please submit all items on
a CD. It is not necessary to include printed copies.
Hand Delivery/Courier: Ms. Brenda Edwards, U.S. Department
of Energy, Building Technologies Program, 950 L'Enfant Plaza SW., Suite
600, Washington, DC 20024. Phone: (202) 586-2945. Please submit one
signed paper original. If possible, please submit all items on a CD. It
is not necessary to include printed copies.
Docket: The docket is available for review at http://www.regulations.gov, and will include Federal Register notices,
framework document, notice of proposed rulemaking, public meeting
attendee lists and transcripts, comments, and other supporting
documents/materials throughout the rulemaking process. The docket can
be accessed by searching for Docket No. EERE-2012-BT-STD-0020 at the
regulations.gov Web site.
For further information on how to submit or review public comments
or view hard copies of the docket in the Resource Room, contact Ms.
Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-2945 or email: [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Stephen Witkowski, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies, EE-2J, 1000
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Phone: (202) 586-
7463. Email: [email protected].
Ms. Elizabeth Kohl, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of General
Counsel, GC-71, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585-
0121. Phone: (202) 586-7796, email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction and Legal Authority
II. Test Procedures
III. Energy Conservation Standards
I. Introduction and Legal Authority
The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA) established
an energy conservation program for consumer products. (42 U.S.C. 6291-
6309) The National Energy Conservation Policy Act of 1978 amended EPCA
to add Part C of Title III, which established an energy conservation
program for certain industrial equipment. (42 U.S.C. 6311-6317) (Part C
was re-designated Part A-1 on codification in the U.S. Code, for
editorial reasons.) The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT 2005), Public
Law 109-58, further amended
[[Page 48109]]
EPCA to expand DOE's energy conservation program to include commercial
clothes washers and other commercial equipment.
EPACT 2005 established the first energy conservation standards for
commercial clothes washers, requiring commercial clothes washers
manufactured on or after January 1, 2007 to have a modified energy
factor (MEF) of at least 1.26 and a water factor (WF) of no more than
9.5. (42 U.S.C. 6313(e)(1); 10 CFR 431.156) EPACT 2005 further directed
DOE to conduct two rulemaking cycles to determine whether to amend
these standards. EPCA required completion of the first rulemaking by
January 1, 2010, and DOE must complete the second rulemaking by January
1, 2015. (42 U.S.C. 6313(e)).
DOE completed the first rulemaking when it issued a final rule to
amend the standards for commercial clothes washers on December 18,
2009. (75 FR 1122, January 8, 2010). Compliance with the amended
standards is required as of January 8, 2013. The January 2010 final
rule established revised standards for two separate product classes:
top-loading and front-loading commercial clothes washers. These
standards were based on the MEF and WF metrics.
This current rulemaking will satisfy the requirement to publish the
second final rule by January 1, 2015. Compliance with any amended
standards would be required three years after the date of publication
of the final standards.
II. Test Procedures
EPCA requires that CCWs use the same test procedures as residential
clothes washers. (42 U.S.C. 6314(a)(8)) DOE published a final rule
amending its clothes washer test procedures on March 7, 2012. (``March
2012 final rule''). (77 FR 13888) The March 2012 final rule amended the
test procedure at 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix J1 and
established a new test procedure at Appendix J2. Manufacturers of both
commercial and residential clothes washers will be required to use the
new Appendix J2 on the compliance date of the amended standards for
residential clothes washers, March 7, 2015. (The amended standards for
residential clothes washers were established by a direct final rule. If
DOE withdraws the direct final rule on the basis of adverse comments
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 6295(p)(4), a different compliance date may be
established in subsequent rulemaking action for residential clothes
washers.)
The new Appendix J2 contains provisions for measuring standby mode
and off mode energy use, which is factored into a new efficiency
metric, integrated modified energy factor (IMEF). Appendix J2 also
establishes a new water efficiency metric, integrated water factor
(IWF), which provides a more representative measure of water
consumption by incorporating water consumption from all the temperature
cycles; in contrast, the WF metric is based on the water consumption of
only the cold wash cycle.
Appendix J2 retains provisions for calculating MEF and WF; however,
because of certain changes to the active mode provisions of the test
procedure, MEF and WF calculated using Appendix J2 will differ from MEF
and WF calculated for the same clothes washer using the current test
procedure at Appendix J1. The current standard levels for commercial
clothes washers are based on MEF and WF as measured using Appendix J1,
and products that minimally comply with the standard as measured using
Appendix J1 would likely not comply if measured using Appendix J2.
III. Energy Conservation Standards
During this rulemaking, DOE will determine whether to further amend
the energy conservation standards for commercial clothes washers. (42
U.S.C. 6313(e)). DOE will also consider developing correction factors
that would be used to determine compliance with the MEF/WF standards
effective January 8, 2013 when manufacturers are required to measure
energy and water consumption using Appendix J2. Such correction factors
would be used until compliance with any amended standards developed in
this rulemaking was required.
EPCA requires that any new or amended energy conservation standard
be designed to achieve the maximum improvement in energy or water
efficiency that is technologically feasible and economically justified.
To determine whether a standard is economically justified, EPCA
requires that DOE determine whether the benefits of the standard exceed
its burdens by considering, to the greatest extent practicable, the
following:
(1) The economic impact of the standard on the manufacturers and
consumers of the affected products;
(2) The savings in operating costs throughout the estimated average
life of the product compared to any increases in the initial cost, or
maintenance expense;
(3) The total projected amount of energy and water (if applicable)
savings likely to result directly from the imposition of the standard;
(4) Any lessening of the utility or the performance of the products
likely to result from the imposition of the standard;
(5) The impact of any lessening of competition, as determined in
writing by the Attorney General, that is likely to result from the
imposition of the standard;
(6) The need for national energy and water conservation; and
(7) Other factors the Secretary considers relevant.
(42 U.S.C. 6295 (o)(2)(B)(i) and 42 U.S.C. 6316(a))
To begin the required rulemaking process, DOE has prepared a
framework document to explain the issues, analyses, and processes that
it is considering for the development of amended energy conservation
standards for commercial clothes washers. The framework document is
available at http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/commercial/clothes_washers.html.
Additionally, DOE will hold a public meeting to focus on the
analyses and issues described in the framework document. DOE encourages
anyone who wishes to participate in the public meeting to view the
framework document and to be prepared to discuss its contents. Public
meeting participants need not limit their comments to the topics
identified in the framework document; DOE is also interested in
receiving views on other relevant issues that participants believe
would affect energy conservation standards for this equipment. DOE
welcomes all interested parties, regardless of whether they participate
in the public meeting, to submit in writing comments and information on
matters addressed in the framework document and on other matters
relevant to consideration of standards for commercial clothes washers.
DOE will conduct the public meeting in an informal conference
style. A court reporter will record the minutes of the meeting. The
discussion will not include proprietary information, costs or prices,
market shares, or other commercial matters regulated by U.S. antitrust
laws.
After the public meeting and the expiration of the period for
submitting written statements, DOE will begin collecting data,
conducting the analyses as discussed at the public meeting, and
reviewing public comments.
Anyone who wishes to participate in the public meeting, receive
meeting materials, or be added to the DOE mailing list to receive
future notices and information about the rulemaking process for
commercial clothes washers
[[Page 48110]]
should contact Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 586-2945.
Issued in Washington, DC, on July 31, 2012.
Kathleen B. Hogan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy.
[FR Doc. 2012-19766 Filed 8-10-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P